LCH Charity

Recently funded

The charity’s aim is not to fund patient care, but to enhance and improve it – providing grants to existing or new projects that are over and above those served by government funding. It has the capability to make a difference to patients, their families and staff of the trust.

A donation given to Leeds Community Healthcare Charity can contribute to making a significant difference in enhancing the best possible care to every community in Leeds, and a difference that will continue for years into the future. It provides funds to benefit community healthcare services provided by Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust through investment in patient and staff welfare, education of staff and research projects.

Some examples of what Leeds Community Healthcare Charity has funded:

An aquarium and new colourful duvets for the children at Hannah House, a ‘home from home’ styled facility providing planned or emergency short-break care for children with complex health needs

Sickle Cell service social trip for patients and families to share experiences of their condition with other families in their community

Makaton Foundation workshop - a language programme designed to provide a means of communication to individuals who cannot communicate efficiently by speaking, further training that goes above the 'taster' currently provided

Plants and decorations for new Improving Access to Psychological Therapies clinic areas in Burmantofts

Projector and screen for film nights at South Leeds Independence Centre, providing rehabilitation for people who cannot be supported safely in their own home, when they do not need to go in to, or remain in hospital

Have a read about some of the fantastic work funded by Leeds Community Healthcare Charity in more detail below.

The Giving Voice Choir Leeds, inclusive choir for adults with neurological conditions and their carers.

The Giving Voice Choir was launched in June 2014 and works in partnership with Arts at Trinity, Parkinson's UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Carers Leeds and the MS Society.

The choir is led by Sally Blyth, an experienced singing tutor ‘I am aware of some of the significant benefits that singing can offer people with neurological conditions from researching the effects of sound and music on symptoms of Parkinson’s as a part of my diploma at the British Academy of Sound Therapy, so I was really excited when Wendy contacted me to lead the Giving Voice choir’.

Wendy Neill, Speech and Language Therapist who initiated the choir said ‘I am passionate about giving people a voice and enabling people to access social activities. Many people I see become withdrawn from social activities and can become isolated from others, as can their carers.’

The equipment is to assess gait (how someone walks). It is fully portable and works with a laptop. The service has previously used other equipment rather than having their own. Having this equipment means the service can be more flexible for their patients and can reduce the amount of unnecessary appointments by combining the assessment into one clinic session, whilst providing increased clinical effectiveness through the technology used.

Walking on air initiative run by the Podiatry service in partnership with St Georges Crypt

As part of its Winter Warmth Campaign, Leeds Community Healthcare Trust supported the city’s most vulnerable with its ‘Walking on Air’ initiative. Launched on the 14 December, at St George’s Crypt Homeless Shelter in the City Centre, the initiative saw NHS foot health experts delivering basic foot care, education and issuing foot-care packs to those who might not otherwise know how to access support. Lynda Dexter, Specialist Podiatrist said: “The idea came from working with vulnerable client groups in the past. Often clients tell us they are ‘walking on air’ after they have received podiatry treatment. It is essential that people seek treatment at the early stages to reduce further foot complications and today is about starting a conversation with vulnerable people in our city, so they know where to go for further help and support for this and other health issues.”

This initiative brought us another step towards our ambition that health and social care partners should work together more and more closely. Our aim is for the health of the poorest to increase the quickest. The ‘Walking on Air’ initiative also visited city based charities the Joanna Project, The Refugee Service and York Street Health Practice to provide foot health support to other vulnerable groups.

If you have any queries or questions about donations please do not hesitate to contact us at: